Quebec offers 2nd booster shot to seniors to prepare for spread of Omicron subvariant – CBC

Interim public health director says he remains optimistic about situation, though masks stay on until April 15

Mar 23, 2022

Quebec’s interim public health director says a new round of vaccinations is on the way in an effort to fight back against yet another COVID-19 surge.

Residents of long-term care and retirement homes will be first on the list to get another booster by early next week, said Dr. Luc Boileau, speaking at a news conference Wednesday.

Any Quebecer aged 80 and up will also have access to the new dose, he said, as will those who rely on in-home care through the public health system.

Boileau said cases and hospitalizations are again on the rise, and the risk of catching and transmitting the virus remains high.

“I ask you all to be careful,” said Boileau, describing the Omicron subvariant BA.2 as a “game changer.”

The subvariant is 30 to 50 per cent more contagious than Omicron, he said, and that’s why cases are rising everywhere.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/sixth-wave-quebec-boileau-1.6395067